Sad, but true
We need to face it - not all passports are created equal (‘The ‘best’ passports that give you travel freedom,’ Gulf News, January 16). Some can get visas easily, others can’t. It’s a sad fact, but it’s the truth and it’s not our fault. We always have to prove that we’re law-abiding, good citizens, that we won’t do criminal acts and stay illegally in another country. Let’s just work on improving the image of our countries and hope to build better diplomatic ties.
From Mr Michael
Dubai
Website comment
Backwards
This is the most ridiculous article I’ve read so far. The headline should be framed on a wall for the “best” way to highlight the most racist statement in 2015. Whoever approved this article needs to take a deep breath and really read through this again. If you still don’t get it, I think you need to get yourself a time machine and go back to the 19th century.
From Mr Jason Peter
Dubai
Website comment
What next?
This is ridiculous and I totally agree with Jason. Tomorrow will we see articles based on people’s accent, skin colour and religion?
From Mr Syed
Dubai
Website comment
It’s a reality
I think it’s an interesting article! That’s the reality, folks. Those of us whose passports are not well accepted worldwide always have trouble traveling. I’ve always wanted to visit nice places, but because of my passport, my mobility is quite limited. Once I applied for a US visa and got denied. The reason? Apparently because I’m over 40 years old, and I’m still single! I wish that consulates could be less discriminating. I’m not surprised a lot of my friends are trying to get an immigrant visa to Canada and other countries. Their passports can get them anywhere.
From Ms Leteicia
Dubai
Website comment
Fuel to the fire
Thank you Gulf News for openly creating a racist, biased and differentiating article for an already chaotic world. Those countries that are listed in ‘worst’ are put into that category by illegal invasion and destruction caused by those ranked in first. The media is just adding fuel to the fire to create more furore.
From Mr Iffath
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Not ranking the people
Some of you are taking this article the wrong way. They are not saying people with the higher ranking passports are better than everyone else. They are simply ranking passports by how many counties they can travel to without applying for visas. If you don’t really travel then this shouldn’t bother you. There are many countries that are more beautiful to live in than the higher ranking countries. But again the article is not ranking the people within the country or the country itself.
From Ms C. Marie
UAE
Facebook comment
No justification
Exercising freedom of expression is one thing, but hurting sentiments with the same, is another (‘Focus: Freedom of expression,’ Gulf News, January 16). Understanding when and where to draw the line is important when you have an audience to cater to from a wide diaspora. Having said that, a life is worth much more than a few words and taking someone’s life on the account of something spoken or written against someone’s sentiments is not justified.
From Ms Disha Dadlani
Dubai
Facebook comment
Don’t create damage
I believe that it’s necessary and better to limit your freedom of expression in order to not cause damage to the lives of others. Limit it to the point where you do not meddle in the things that don’t concern you.
From Mr Shamsi
UAE
Facebook comment
Gives them power
Freedom of expression does not necessarily mean that one should make fun of another person or their emotions. With freedom of expression, one can criticise others, but it has to be done in a constructive way. A non-popular satire magazine became popular with the help of ignorant extremists. I’m against terrorists, and I’m against Charlie Hebdo.
From Mr Qutub Attari Isty
Dubai
Facebook comment
Varying interests
It is my strong affirmation that freedom of expression is being able to express a thought without being criticised or condemned. In an ideal society, every person has his/her own thoughts and ideas, however it is impossible to say that the thoughts voiced by one citizen are necessarily in the best interest of the rest.
In some situations, we need to be able to distinguish what is a fundamental right and what isn’t. Thus, an attempt to condemn any identity that one considers themselves strongly affiliated with, will involve conflicts until the governments appropriately deal with the issue at hand.
From Mr Sruthi Bhattiprolu
UAE
Facebook comment
Helping the BJP image
The story about the ex-super cop, Kiran Bedi, was an interesting read (‘Ex-super cop Kiran Bedi joins BJP’, Gulf News, January 16). Former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Kiran Bedi’s entry to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the latest dramatic development in Indian politics. Certainly this will add to the BJP’s image more. The honest and sincere police administrative officer who is packed with four decades of experience will guide the party with its agenda.
She was supporting earlier Anna Hazare’s Lokpal bill and now she joined with BJP. Will she take up the Lokpal issue with the present administration? Now the Delhi poll has taken real shape. Ultimately, whoever comes to power should deliver good governance to the Delhi people. I hope this time it will happen.
From Mr K.Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
That poor child
I am totally disgusted by this - that poor child (‘Diaries of rape and torture in the Daesh den,’ Gulf News, January 15). The world would be a far better place without people like this in it – people who incite terror. But a 13-year-old girl? My heart breaks for her. We can’t base a minority of parasites on a whole religion. Islamic faith is a peaceful one. These are people that are using religion to justify their brutal actions and use it as a scapegoat for their foul behaviour. They are the lowest of the low. They are paedophiles.
From Mr Chaz Tara Dealhoy
UAE
Facebook comment
Not what we are taught!
They are doing this in the name of religion and this is not what the religion teaches us to do!
From Ms Fatima Ahmad Anfar
UAE
Facebook comment
Brutal acts
These acts of brutality have nothing to do with any religion. These are only to defame and misrepresent a religion that teaches us tolerance and respect. These militants are in no way representing the true religion of peace. These atrocities against helpless women are not acceptable in any religion.
People need to stop associating these insane and brutal acts to our religion. Islam teaches us to be tolerant, patient and to live in harmony. These are individual acts that are in no way related to Islam and should be condemned.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Painful fact
This is the saddest and most painful fact because they are using Islam. They themselves don’t respect what is written in the Quran. The painful truth.
From Ms Rowena Llanes
Dubai
Facebook comment
No respect
It’s hard to separate wheat from rice. What about the recent killings of the children in Pakistan? Doesn’t all religion value women and children?
From Ms Tinashe Rudhumbu
UAE
Facebook comment
No problem with manners
There is a very fine line between chivalry and being courteous and that does not hamper progressing gender equality (‘Facebook debate: Chivalry vs gender equality’, Gulf News, January 18). As a woman, I have given up my seat for older men and women, women with children or anyone needing help in a situation. I have also held doors open after passing through for the next person, irrespective of gender. I do not wait to be seated as I am capable of doing so on my own, thus no pulling chairs for me by anyone. However, if a gentleman does so, I graciously accept.
Having said that how is this affecting progression of gender equality? It is the thought process of individuals on how anyone wants to be treated. Gender inequality comes about when job classifieds have ‘only men’ required to fill a position, which could be done by a woman! On a lighter note, these days most doors are heavy to push open - I wouldn’t mind that little chivalry from a person physically stronger than me to do it!
From Ms Aazmin Kantawala
UAE
Keep it separate
Gender equality and good manners are two different things. Just because one has good manners does not mean they are not equal with the other gender. It does not mean you should treat people from the opposite sex differently and impolitely. Forget gender equality, opening doors and giving seats even to anyone is a decent gesture and speaks about one’s upbringing. I think we should keep these two things separate and not try to complicate them with gender equality.
From Mr Ghanshyam Vyas
UAE
Not for peace
This man, Benjamin Netanyahu, is one of the biggest cheaters in the world (‘Israeli premier’s opportunism was on show in Paris’, Gulf News, January 15). So please tell me what is our chance of any peace? The only thing that would have been achieved is a bunch of more lies from Netanyahu. For years and years the Palestinians are given hope whilst Israel is grabbing land and trying to avoid any fast track solution.
From Mr Markus Setz
Dubai
Facebook comment
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